The state of SMB payments in the US - Adyen

2026 SMB PAYMENTS REPORT
The embedded payments trends defining 2026 go beyond adoption rates. For SaaS platforms serving US SMBs, the real opportunity lies in understanding what shapes them.
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Embedded payments represent a significant opportunity for SaaS platforms serving SMBs in the US.
By embedding payments directly within the software SMB customers already use, platforms can play a more central role in how these businesses operate: simplifying operations, reducing reliance on separate providers, and laying the groundwork for broader financial services.
Adoption is already gaining momentum. 65% of US SMBs use their platform’s embedded payments solution, and one in three non-users are “considering adoption” within the next 12 months.
That said, adoption isn’t automatic. SMBs still weigh the benefits of switching against existing payment processes, perceived complexity, and the need for flexibility.
For platforms looking to grow their embedded payments offering, understanding what drives adoption, what creates hesitation, and what encourages deeper usage is key.
To understand the current landscape, Adyen partnered with Visa to survey 1,506 SMBs globally, including 500 in the US, between January and March 2026. This benchmark examines five areas shaping SMB adoption of embedded payments in the US:
Opportunities beyond payments
Methodology: Based on an Adyen and Visa survey of 500 US SMBs, conducted January to March 2026. Respondents were decision-makers for payment systems at businesses with up to 250 employees, all using software platforms. Global comparisons draw from the full dataset of 1,506 SMBs across the UK, US, and Germany.
US adoption is in line with the global average at 65%. What differs is why SMBs are adopting. Globally, “more payment options” tops the list of adoption drivers, with “faster cash flow” close behind. In the US, those priorities are reversed, with faster access to funds coming out on top.
Among US SMBs not considering adoption, 51% say their “current process works”, higher than the global average. This suggests they’re more comfortable with the status quo, so the case for switching needs to be especially clear: what’s better, and why is it worth changing?
55% of US SMBs cite faster access to funds as a key reason for adopting embedded payments, making it the strongest driver in the market.
This reflects the operating environment facing many SMBs today. Rising costs, tighter margins, and financial uncertainty mean faster payouts can have a direct impact on business performance.
However, liquidity is only part of the story. Other leading adoption drivers include:
More payment methods accepted (53%)
Reduced manual work (50%)
Together, these findings point to a broader demand for payment solutions that remove operational friction as much as they process transactions.
For SaaS platforms, this reinforces an important point: embedded payments should be positioned around business outcomes. Faster cash flow, simpler operations, and greater efficiency resonate more strongly than technical payment features alone.
For US SMBs that have not yet adopted their platform’s embedded payments solution, the biggest challenge is confidence that changing their current process will create enough value.
Many SMBs already have established payment relationships and workflows, with PayPal (56%) and Square (42%) among the most widely used providers. As a result, the most common reason non-users give for not switching is that their current payment process “works well” (51%).
Among US SMBs considering adoption, the leading barriers include:
Preference to keep payments separate for control or simplicity (30%)
Perceived cost (26%)
Payment method coverage concerns (25%)
These objections are not limitations of embedded payments, but areas where platforms can better demonstrate value.
Simplicity concerns can be addressed by showing how an integrated solution reduces operational complexity, while flexible or standalone options can support different adoption needs.
Cost concerns can be reframed around total value, including time saved on reconciliation, reduced manual effort, and improved visibility.
Payment method concerns can be addressed by demonstrating the breadth of payment options available through embedded solutions.
For SaaS platforms, the opportunity is to move the conversation beyond payment processing and show how embedded payments improve the wider business workflow.
SMBs already using their platform’s embedded payments solution report benefits that extend beyond processing transactions:
Improved payouts (88%)
Better customer experience (88%)
Reduced administrative effort (86%)
This reflects how deeply payments influence the day-to-day reality of running a business. They touch wider operational processes like invoicing, reconciliation, reporting, and customer interactions. When these workflows connect, SMBs spend less time on manual work and have better visibility of their finances.
However, the value of embedded payments is not yet fully realized. While SMBs recognize improvements in efficiency and experience, they’re less likely to understand commercial impact, like transaction growth or revenue generation. Without that baseline, payments can be seen as a cost to manage instead of a strategic advantage.
For SaaS platforms, the opportunity is to make that commercial value more tangible, and help SMBs quantify the impact of embedded payments on their business.
Of the SMBs surveyed in the healthcare industry, 72% report adopting their platform's embedded payments solution. While it represents a high adoption rate, only 29% say they fully understand embedded payments as a concept.
This suggests that adoption is often driven by solving an immediate operational challenge — billing, reconciliation, and reporting — rather than a clear awareness of embedded payments as a category. It does point, however, to a growing shift away from legacy payment setups and to